crossing borders; learning new things and making friends…

Tag Archives: Home Life

Yippie! It is July and soon it will be the end of the school term. But; what I am going to do in September? Well; I have been told that on Thursday I will be finding out where I am going to be placed – I have a few days off as of end of play on Friday (nice little sporting reference for you all!) and I will be popping into the office to have a meeting. I am nervous as I am having this feeling that I am not going to be placed in Secondary, however; I still have until July 31st to make my decision. I do have some options, that will enable me to teaching more online and save my cash for moving abroad.

As well as making decisions; I have been planning my trip to the USA. I am pretty excited as it is only 28 days until I fly out there! A year of planning has been amazing! I have created a TripIt itinerary, so all my friends (here in the UK and in the USA) know where I am going to be and when. I felt that this would be a good idea, as I am travelling by myself and using public transport. I have also been sorting out what I am going to pack; I have already done a “dry pack” and I am currently underweight (Yippie!); which is good as I am travelling for 22 days – which 7 are Girl Scout camp and 4 are at Disney.

I have decided that I will do some VLogs of my trip and I will upload them onto my YouTube Channel – My TEFL Adventures – as I will be using A LOT public transport

Being a Guide (yes, I am still in the Girl Guides) I am always most of the time ready for anything; being a teacher abroad I will still be prepared for all that will happen abroad. I know that I will need to pack a lot of things; here is what I would pack in my suitcase (or cases):

I will definitely need some of this in my bag;

Aloe Vera Gel – I swear by it! Excellent for everything!

Factor 50+ Sun Screen – You can never know how strong the Sun wherever I go to teach; also I do burn even though I am a brunette.

I have been researching what other people have done when they have been moving abroad. I found Her Packing List; which is a travel blog/site that is aimed at women and gives us girls tips about traveling. Brooke and her team area amazing and I have saved it to my ‘TEFL Bookmarks’. I will spend some more time and work my way through the site. Of what I have found it is very interesting and informative. Another site I found was Frugal Frolicker; another female traveller, called Lindsey, who blogs about her adventures. The image at the top of this post is what she packed for one of her trips in Asia. I have also been using Jackie’s website – The Budget Minded Traveller and all of tips and itinerary lists for some ideas. Not forgetting her amazing Podcast that have hints and tips!

I know that packing “my life” into my 70ltr backpack and my “daysac” is going to be hard. I have already decided that my “daysac”; which will be my carry on, will have my Laptop (as it is designed for laptops), passport and all my paperwork (tickets, visas, cash etc.). I cannot go anywhere without them; in theory. Talking about paperwork; I know that I will be including the following:

a letter from doctor – I am thinking of doing a medical check; but as usual with the NHS here in the UK, there will be a charge.

copies of any visas I have – some will be in the passport but I will photocopy them just in case.

However; what about my things that are staying back here in the UK. Currently, I am still living with my mum and as time goes on my things are reducing. I know that what things I do have left will be okay; as hopefully my family will look after them. The house is fully insured as is the contents of it. I know that it will be mostly Guiding items (my camp blankets etc.). There are other options to be; for example putting all my things into self storage. However; I am a little nervous about that as you don’t know who has the Master Key and have access to your belongings. I have already started to reduce my clothes; I have been losing weight for the last year and a half – lost two dress sizes – and therefore most of my clothes do not fit me anymore. There are products in the market that can help myself and others protect their homes – for example like a Wireless Alarm System from Simplisafe; an American award winning company. With the Simplisafe Free Apps for iPhone, Android, & Windows smartphones we can take control of your security with a more sophisticated personal Command Centre. A fab idea right?

While I am abroad, I know that I will have to keep myself healthy and safe. I do some self defence moves and I am willing to learn the language so I am able to communicate with the locals.

I cannot believe that I have posted anything since August 13th. I feel so bad! So many things have happened and changed! Since my situation had changed, I have attended a local Girl Guide camp and fell for Teaching in Malaysia.

Anyway; back to my MASSIVE update! Since all the problems with my current job (yes I am still working in a school), I am still planning on going abroad September/October 2016. I have AirMiles (okay, okay they are called Avios now!) that I can use! I have signed to collect more by doing surveys for Avios. It only takes up a little bit of time each day! I am aiming for the Thailand Internship. I feel that I will enjoy it better than China; I can always head over to China after the five months?!

However; I have decided to go and visit my “family” in America for a few weeks – I know that I will use some of my points but as it is getting closer to Christmas (I cannot believe that I just said the C-word!!) I am hoping the “Santa and family” will give my US Dollars or even buy my some Avios. I have volunteered myself for a camp while I am in the USA. It will be good to see the camp from the “working” side as the last two times I have attended the camp I was a participant. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing them all again! I am excited about using my American Sign Language at the SIGNS restaurant in Canada.

As well as my job stressing me out; I have been trying to keep myself relaxed by crafting a lot more. Handmade Crafts & Cards has been doing better than I expected. At work; I have been working with one of my students who is originally from Albania, who happens to be Deaf. In theory, she is Tri-lingual! British Sign Language, Albanian and English. Her English is the thing that is suffering as she does not use it enough. I have been using the English Banana Elementary course; which I love! However; last week I was pulled off timetable to support another student and now she is suffering. I am still giving her homework though; I just hope that all is okay with her.

I am currently undertaking the Advanced Grammar TEFL Certificate; the last module I can do with I-to-I TEFL. I have also been listening to The Budget Minded Traveler; Jackie is an amazing blogger and she also does a Podcast. I have been listening to it during my commute to work. I am a little behind as Jackie has been producing the Podcast since 2014. I am loving her tips and hints and I have been inspired to save my pennies much more than I am!

I am so sorry that My TEFL Adventures has been a little bare recently. I have not been well, my laptop needed to have minor surgery and therefore I had problems accessing to the internet. A lot has been happening though; when I have been able to access the internet, I have been following new TEFL accounts – both here and on other Social Media platforms.

For example; Claire and Anthony; who run the blog – To Love, To Live, are currently on the China Internship with i-to-i TEFL and ImmerQi. There have created a YouTube channel and I have been watching their experiences. There are also on Twitter and I am following them there too! I am love hearing (and seeing) what they are both doing while on their Internship. I bet live out there is much better than it is here?!

I have also been ding a lot of job hunting in the papers; I have not found much but it seems that people are hearing about me. I had an email from i-to-i TEFL asking if I would allow them to give my details to a new contact of the organisation. Of course I agreed and I am now waiting to hear from the contact. Also I applied to Pequebabies in Northern Spain in March; I did not hear anything. I assumed I was not what they were looking for; however a couple of days ago I heard something. I was very excited as I have been working with ‘Reception’ children since September 2014 – ‘Reception’ children are aged 4 to 5 years old – I am enjoying working closely with the children. I have been looking at Spain as well as Asia to start my TEFL Adventures properly. I am now waiting to receive some answers to the questions I asked. I will keep you all posted on that front.

I cannot believe that we are almost at the year of the 2014-2015 academic year. Officially we are now in the Summer Term; however have not seen much “summery-ness” about it. All the older students I am currently working with are stressed with their exams and revision. This in turn; has made myself and the other Support Staff stressed. Because of this I am not well, which I am not enjoying one bit! I hate being ill; especially as it has gone to an awful cough.

On Wednesday; last week, I had my first ever phone interview for a job in Poland as an ESL Intern with and I was terribly nervous about it. I have never had an interview over the phone before. I know that this will be how the schools or companies I apply for will conduct their interviews. However; we had some technical difficulties – using public WiFi is not a good idea (that is a thing to remember) but we ended up using my mobile number. It worked fine but it was a little noisy and I sat in my car. I am so glad that I was unable to be seen. I was interviewed by Andy.

The interview lasted for half an hour and I was surprised by the amount of questions he asked. I had the feeling that I did not do every well when it had finished. There were questions that I did not even think that he would ask about…for example – grammar! I was asked to give examples of Tenses – Past, Present and Future. I was asked to give an example – I could not believe it my mind went blank! It was horrid. This is where I think it all went down hill for me. However; Andy did ask my for the definitions of two words. The words were ‘Century’ and ‘Freedom’. Personally; I think that my answers were pretty lame, but Andy seemed to like them. At the end of the half an hour, Andy said that he would pass my details etc. onto Natalie and she would call me again after the weekend to ask some more questions on Grammar. He would email me a “Pre-Arrival Study Pack” to read beforehand; which when it arrived I read front to back three times and highlighted the key points of Grammar.

It has been many months since I did my Grammar Awareness Course (and I feel that it is time that I refresh myself by doing the course again!) and I am very worried about the questions the Natalie would ask. Within the email; which to be honest I thought Andy was going to send by it was actually from Natalie, stated that I have a good personality for being a TEFL teacher and I would fit in with the rest of the team (paraphrasing a little). My jaw almost hit the floor when I read that part; I could not believe it. I must have been okay with the interview. I was a little relived. However; today was the second half of the interview. Again I feel that it did not go to plan. I was very nervous. I knew that she would ask me to give examples of all the tenses and what the parts of speech were. I focussed on these sections when I was waiting for Natalie to call me.

However; Natalie did say that she would contact my References by phone (I have had to change my Reference recently as one of them is no longer able to be contacted by the information I have for them) or by email (as one of my current References is Deaf) to discuss me and my ability to teach. At this time I became more nervous; as the Grammar questions she had asked I did not fully answer correctly. However; as an Intern you are being taught how to teach in theory so I would have to brush up pretty quickly! [Note to Self: write a post about Grammar].

She did ask me one thing…would I be able to start working with Speed School before the Summer 2015. “All I need to do is to give my current employers one months notice” was all I said; but I know that I would have to discuss the matter with my family.

Including today; I have 12 working days left of 2014…I should be excited, however; I am not. The last few days I have not been feeling my “100% positive” self; which is horrid. Not just for me; but for the people (both students and staff) I work with. I had sold one of my Trading Cards sets on eBay two weeks ago and it fell through as the payment was blocked at the buyers end. The payment would have been half of my first payment for the Vietnam Internship. I am desperate move on; I am not happy here. I need to start my new life away from everything here. I have decided that I will not be spending much after the Holiday period. I know that I need to save as much as possible. I have worked out how to get to Vietnam when (or if) the time arrives. I just need to save some more Avios points; it is a shame that I cannot convert these Nectar points I have got. I may spend them on resources or things that I may need while I am away.

I also have not been well the last few days; chronic headaches and feeling nauseous. I think that is due to not fully enjoying my job. I have been thinking about my family more and what will happen while I would be away. My sister in law has a relative who has taught in China as a TEFL teacher and she said that he loved it. She was glad that the internet was available and she could contact them. This would be the same for me…I know that I can always send an email or chat on Skype. I really need to stop thinking about my family and what they would think and just think of myself.

I have no ties here; other than my family. I can always return to my current job (that is if I wish to return to it), my volunteering I can also return to – I have not really enjoyed it since my Mum retired from it in April – I can take my memories with me. That is all I need…

I really need to sort myself out. I have ordered a workbook from Leonie Dawson. I have ordered the Life and Biz workbook. I need to sort it all out. Leonie is wonderful woman; she lives in Australia and runs her own business. She is one crazy arsed woman, but she makes me smile and helps me to think of myself more. I found her via Jen Saunders at Wild Sister; who is amazing too! I know that buying this workbook I have spent money and not saving it; however it will set me and my goals alive ready for 2015. I feel that this is what I need currently in my life.

I have been worried about the Vietnam Internship and if I will be able to afford to go. I need to save and sell a lot of my crafty items, eBay stock and have as many things on Vinted as I can.

My deepest apologies to you all; for not posting anything for the last few weeks , well six weeks! I have had a change in my current job which means I no longer have access to the internet on a daily basis (sad face) however; I have splashed out and bought myself a Tablet thingy which I can post on everyday! Yippie! I can use the Wireless at the place I am now working at on the first half of the week.

I will be catching up on Wordle Wednesday and Idiom of the Week as of Monday; so keep your eyes peeled!

I sent my CV off to IC Bilbao and I have heard back from them – see Writing a Wicked covering Letter – sadly I should have sent my CV to the earlier in the year as all the positions the school has is Part Time ones; I have contacted them to ask about the amount of hours, pay etc. I’ll keep you posted about that.

I have been busy with this new job which has taken me away from this blog; to be honest it kills me not blogging about my adventures. I am always on the lookout for jobs and I have been thinking about setting up my own Online School using Moodle but it could be expensive as I would have to buy a domain and applying to be an online school where people can get accredited qualifications. I will need to do a lot of research before deciding on the idea.